French expert explores ornamentation as a cultural bridge in Jeddah lecture

French expert explores ornamentation as a cultural bridge in Jeddah lecture
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In his talk, Caye explored the role of ornamental art — from both Eastern and Western traditions — in bridging cultures and societies. (AN/photo)
French expert explores ornamentation as a cultural bridge in Jeddah lecture
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In his talk, Caye explored the role of ornamental art — from both Eastern and Western traditions — in bridging cultures and societies. (AN/photo)
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Updated 01 March 2025
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French expert explores ornamentation as a cultural bridge in Jeddah lecture

French expert explores ornamentation as a cultural bridge in Jeddah lecture

Jeddah: Pierre Caye, head of the French Institute of Islamology, recently gave a lecture titled “Ornament at the Service of Cultural Dialogue” at Hayy Jameel in Jeddah.

The lecture was organized by the Alliance Francaise Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with the Consulate General of France and the French Research Centre of the Arabian Peninsula in Jeddah.

In his talk, Caye explored the role of ornamental art — from both Eastern and Western traditions — in bridging cultures and societies.

“Through ornamental art, which circulates quickly, fluidly, and in a very present manner, we witness a natural revival, one in which modern art connects with the past,” Caye told Arab News. “It is an incredibly stimulating and exciting process.

“Ornamentation is a universal form of art. From ancient times to today, it has been present across all cultures, both East and West. Ornament is found everywhere —whether in music, architecture, calligraphy, rhetoric, or decorative arts, even in religious and sacred arts,” he continued. “In fact, no artistic activity is exempt from ornamentation. It is a privileged means of dialogue between cultures.”

Caye also shared his admiration for Jeddah’s historical charm. “I was amazed by the restoration in Al-Balad. It was a perfect introduction to my lecture, an entry point that allowed me to explore my journey with wooden ornaments and the intricate wooden craftsmanship seen in Roshan windows,” he said.

Caye is also the director of research at the French National Centre for Scientific Research, and has devoted much of his career to exploring the sources of European artistic and moral culture.

He has directed international research groups on topics including “Artistic knowledge and art treatises from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment,” and has published several books and articles on the subject.

His current role at the French Institute of Islamology allows him to continue exploring the intersection of art and culture.

During the lecture, an interesting exchange arose regarding the religious significance of ornamental art. Caye reflected on this dialogue, saying, “In Europe, religious art was traditionally associated with painting and grand works of art. But for Islam, ornamental art holds great religious importance. I was told that these patterns carry high religious significance; they serve as a way to connect with divinity, with infinity.

“This theological approach presents challenges for me. The link between art and theology is a complex issue, one that’s difficult to interpret, as these connections vary across religions and societies.”

Caye’s lecture provided insights into how ornamental art serves not only as aesthetic expression but also as a cultural and spiritual bridge between civilizations. He highlighted the rich, multifaceted nature of art and its profound ability to connect people across time, space, and belief systems.

Larry Lamartiniere, managing director of Alliance Francaise in Jeddah, said: “Pierre Caye was able to engage our audience in Jeddah on the cultural significance of ornamental art across societies. We are proud to welcome such esteemed experts in their field to Saudi Arabia for the first time.”


Saudi Arabia invites leaders of GCC for Gulf-US summit in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia invites leaders of GCC for Gulf-US summit in Riyadh
Updated 23 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia invites leaders of GCC for Gulf-US summit in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia invites leaders of GCC for Gulf-US summit in Riyadh

RIYADH: Saudi King Salman has extended invitations to leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to attend a Gulf-US summit in Riyadh, Al Arabiya News Channel reported Sunday.  

The invitation comes as US President Donald Trump is set to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates next week.

 


Saudi king, crown prince congratulate Pope Leo XIV on his election

Saudi king, crown prince congratulate Pope Leo XIV on his election
Updated 11 May 2025
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Saudi king, crown prince congratulate Pope Leo XIV on his election

Saudi king, crown prince congratulate Pope Leo XIV on his election
  • Saudi leadership congratulates Pope Leo XIV on his election as the new leader of the Catholic church

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has congratulated Pope Leo XIV on Sunday on his election as the new leader of the Catholic church.

The king and his crown prince have sent “congratulatory telegrams to Pope Leo XIV on the occasion of his election as Pope of the Vatican,” read a statement on the Saudi Press Agency. 

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now Leo XIV, was elected by the papal conclave on Thursday.

Pope Leo XIV will give his first Sunday blessing and address to a crowd in St Peter's Square in the Vatican today. 


Saudi industry minister tours Danish technology, pharmaceutical hubs

Saudi industry minister tours Danish technology, pharmaceutical hubs
Updated 11 May 2025
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Saudi industry minister tours Danish technology, pharmaceutical hubs

Saudi industry minister tours Danish technology, pharmaceutical hubs
  • Bandar Al-Khorayef examined cutting-edge insulin and biopharmaceutical production technologies at Novo Nordisk
  • At DTU Science Park, he was briefed on innovative solutions driving industrial growth and sustainability

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s minister of industry and mineral resources has toured key industrial and scientific sites as part of his current trip to Denmark.

Bandar Al-Khorayef’s visit to the Nordic country is focused on boosting industrial cooperation and exploring joint investment opportunities.
 
His tour included stops at pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk and the Technical University of Denmark Science Park.
 
At Novo Nordisk, a global leader in diabetes care, Al-Khorayef examined cutting-edge insulin and biopharmaceutical production technologies. He highlighted the strategic partnership between the company and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund via Lifera, aimed at localizing production of GLP-1 drugs and insulin within the Kingdom.
 
At the DTU Science Park, Denmark’s premier technology and innovation hub, the minister was briefed on advanced research and development units, key industrial research projects and innovative solutions driving industrial growth and sustainability.

The Science Park fosters a competitive environment for scientific research, innovation and modern technology development.
 
The visits underline the Kingdom’s dedication to bolstering strategic international partnerships, facilitating the exchange of expertise and enabling technology and knowledge transfer. Such efforts aim to localize promising industries within Saudi Arabia and realize the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in diversifying the national economy.


Built by hand, rooted in history: National Historical Palace in Taif is one man’s tribute to Saudi heritage and Islamic history

Built by hand, rooted in history: National Historical Palace in Taif is one man’s tribute to Saudi heritage and Islamic history
Updated 11 May 2025
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Built by hand, rooted in history: National Historical Palace in Taif is one man’s tribute to Saudi heritage and Islamic history

Built by hand, rooted in history: National Historical Palace in Taif is one man’s tribute to Saudi heritage and Islamic history
  • Built by Majid Al-Thabiti, the site blends Islamic history with contemporary design, rooted in the symbolism of the number seven
  • Spanning 70,000 sq. meters, the palace features seven museums, seven facades, seven gates and almost 7 million stones cut and laid by the man himself

MAKKAH: In the heart of Wadi Qarn in Taif governorate, one man’s vision has resulted in one of Saudi Arabia’s most striking heritage landmarks: the National Historical Palace for Islamic Civilization.

Built by Majid Al-Thabiti, the site blends Islamic history with contemporary design, rooted in the symbolism of the number seven.

In an interview with Arab News, Al-Thabiti said: “The number symbolizes perfection and completeness in several Qur’anic verses, including the seven heavens, the seven earths and the seven shaded by God in his shadow, among others.”

The palace includes flooring adorned with colored stones and inspired by the historical art of Sadu, an intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO.  (SPA)

The project was born out of Al-Thabiti’s strong will. He believed in his dream and devoted his effort, time and energy to bring it to life.

Spanning 70,000 sq. meters, the palace features seven museums, seven facades, seven gates and almost 7 million stones cut and laid by the man himself.

The museums offer distinct cultural and education experiences. Exhibits cover Islamic architecture, local heritage, plastic arts and sculpture, rare collections, astronomy, military history documenting the unification of the Kingdom and an agricultural museum featuring seeds mentioned in the Holy Qur’an.

The palace includes 600 square meters of flooring adorned with colored stones and inspired by the historical art of Sadu, an intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO.

Al-Thabiti said that he personally cuts, shapes and stacks the stones himself. “The manual labor is what gives the project its true spirit, as every corner bears (my) imprint, effort and dedication,” he added.

He used seven types of stone sourced from across Saudi Arabia, including basalt, quartz and shale. His attention to detail is reflected in features such as hand-shaped facades, floor mosaics inspired by Sadu art and stonework colored in seven hues that mirror the Kingdom’s geological diversity.

Majid Al-Thabiti used seven types of stone sourced from across Saudi Arabia, including basalt, quartz and shale. (SPA)

Highlights at the palace include an Abbasid-style minaret with a water fountain in honor of Zubaida, the wife of Harun Al-Rashid; an observatory used to track the crescent moon; and stone engravings of Saudi megaprojects like NEOM and The Line.

The site also includes engravings on stone of the Kingdom’s military vehicles, such as a fighter jet and ship.

Al-Thabiti also built a 700-meter sports track along the banks of Qarn valley, a stable for purebred Arabian horses, as well as replicas of symbolic gates like Makkah Gate, Taif Gate and King Abdulaziz Islamic Gate, with stones from Mounts Al-Nur, Thawr and Uhud. Other exhibits, like Diriyah and Yawm Badina (The Day We Began), commemorate key moments in Saudi history.

According to Al-Thabiti, his goal is to transform the palace into a cultural and educational destination that celebrates the Kingdom’s history and heritage.

“We possess a great civilizational legacy and a deep-rooted history. It is our duty to present it to the world in the finest way. This palace is the beginning,” he said.
 


Ancient terrace farming technique shapes Asir’s agricultural heritage

Ancient terrace farming technique shapes Asir’s agricultural heritage
Updated 11 May 2025
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Ancient terrace farming technique shapes Asir’s agricultural heritage

Ancient terrace farming technique shapes Asir’s agricultural heritage
  • Together, the thumalah and mughayyid systems stand as a testament to early innovation sustaining life in one of Saudi Arabia’s most challenging landscapes

 

RIYADH: For centuries, the people of Saudi Arabia’s Asir region have cultivated food on steep mountain slopes using stone terracing systems.

They began with the construction of stone retaining walls known locally as “thamayil,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Each individual wall, called “thumalah,” is anchored into bedrock and can rise two to six meters in height.

They serve as critical infrastructure for mountain agriculture by creating level growing surfaces on otherwise impossible terrain.

Each individual wall, called “thumalah,” is anchored into bedrock and can rise two to six meters in height. (SPA)

“The thumalah represents a stone containment system designed to capture sloping mountain terrain,” Ahmed Al-Bariqi, an architectural heritage researcher, said in an interview with the SPA. “After building the stone barrier, the enclosed space is filled with a mixture of clay, soil and rocks to create a flat, arable surface suitable for both farming and habitation.”

Local builders adapted to their surroundings, often reinforcing these structures with juniper and sidr tree trunks, as well as massive stones to withstand the pressure of heavy seasonal rains.

Water management is equally sophisticated. The “mughayyid” regulates irrigation and controls flooding by channeling water flow between terraced fields.

The “mughayyid” regulates irrigation and controls flooding by channeling water flow between terraced fields. (SPA)

“Ancient builders displayed remarkable engineering precision in the mughayyid’s construction,” Al-Bariqi has said in his book “Antiquities and Heritage in Bariq Governorate.”

He added: “Square or elongated stones formed the base structure, while carefully polished flat stones were placed at the top, precisely leveled to allow water to flow at calculated rates between terraces.”

Positioned at strategic elevations, the mughayyid retains optimal water volumes while preventing destructive flooding that could compromise the entire terrace system.

Terraces were reinforced by stone retaining walls known locally as “thamayil.” (SPA)

These terraces do more than support agriculture. According to Dr. Ghaithan bin Jurais of King Khalid University, they reflect a deep-rooted civilization in Asir dating back thousands of years.

“These structures preserve soil resources, establish clear property boundaries between neighboring farms, and historically served as recognized markers of family and tribal land ownership,” he said.

Together, the thumalah and mughayyid systems stand as a testament to early innovation sustaining life in one of Saudi Arabia’s most challenging landscapes.